Send this to a friend

The Florida Aquarium is planning a $6 million expansion in three phases.

In the first phase, it will replace its "Sea Hunt" gallery with once titled "Ocean Commotion," a multi-sensory exhibit with interactive parts. In addition, there will be exhibits featuring animals from the world's oceans that will include interactive messages that can be obtained from cell phones and Podcasts.

In phase two, the ship used for eco-tours will be expanded from a 49-passenger capacity to more than 150 passengers.

The final stage is a physical expansion of the facility. The new construction will enclose the area that is currently a second-floor deck creating 9,000-square feet of new multi-use space.

Last year turned out to be the aquarium's best financially. It finished the fiscal year with an operating surplus of $357,000, more than the previous eight years combined.

Attendance set a new record with 675,000, up 13 percent from the previous year.

The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution in Tampa that focuses on the natural environment. The Aquarium facility is home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals representing 1,500 species from Florida and all over the world.

Industries:

Comments

If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.